Electrical connector for building panels



Jan. 5, 1960 W. J. JOHNSON Filed Nov. 13, 1956 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. JOHNSON @Mz/ M ATTORNEYS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR BUILDING PANELS William J. Johnson, San Diego, Calif.

Application November 13, 1956, Serial No. 621,906

6 Claims. (Cl. 200113) This invention relates to electrical connector units and more particularly to quick connect-disconnect units for making positive friction grip contact with electrical wires without damage thereto.

In the fabrication of factory made housing panels for assembly at the building site the wiring for electrical outlets is placed within the panels and extend to a central point along one edge. When the panels are mated, joined together and anchored to the foundation, the wires of adjacent panels must be connected together to complete the electrical circuit and for connection to appropriate switches, meter and power lead-in line. In using the electrical connector units comprising the present invention, these wires in adjacent panels are easily, quickly and securely assembled with positive friction contact, assuring safe and reliable use. On the site hook-up time is greatly reduced and the work may be done by one with little experience or skill and without special tools or equipment. This results in tremendous savings in construction costs; In addition to use in the completion of electrical circuits in the assembly of prefabricated housing panels, these electrical connector units are useful in stage and movie prop assembly. Because the wires are frictionally engaged and are not permanently connected, the circuits may be temporarily used and discon-,

nected again when the prop is no longer needed and is stored for future use. The wires are not damaged and connections may be made repeatedly without wear, clipping or splicing. The electrical connector units comprising this invention are extremely useful in complicated electronic circuitry and in experimental breadboard design. Electronic components are now built in ackaged groups with all leads conveniently placed so that upon circuit or component failure in one package, this package may be taken out of service for repair and replaced with another. In breadboard design it is desirable to connect certain combinations of wires together in making experiments and tests. Shortly thereafter other combinations may be desired. The need for ease and speed in connecting and disconnecting packaged and breadboard circuitry without damage to the ends of the lead wires, yet with assured positive contact when connected, makes highly desirable the use of connector units such as hereinafter described and claimed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide for an improved electrical connector unit.

Another object is the provision of a friction grip electrical connector unit for electrically connecting two wires in a reliable manner.

Anotherobject is the provision of an electrical connector for connecting electrical Wires without damage to the ends thereof.

Still another object is the provision of an electrical connector for quickly and easily connecting and disconnecting electrical wires.

Other objects will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds with reference to the drawings wherein:

United States Patent O ice Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the connector unit;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a portion of Fig. 2 enlarged to better show the safety fuse connection; and

Fig. 4 shows a modification in which the connector plates are integrally connected.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a lower section 11 and an upper section 12 fastened together with a screw 13. These sections may be of rubber, Bakelite or other non-conducting material. Along the sides are aligned spaced recessed portions in which mounting clips 14 are fastened to upper section 12 with two screws '16, and retaining clips 17 are fastened to lower section 11 with one screw 18. Between the screws 16 fastening mounting clip 14 to the upper section 12 is an aperture 19 of sufiicient size to permit the insertion of an insulated wire 21. On the opposite side and hidden from view the mounting clips are fastened tothe lower section and the retaining clips are fastened to the top section in like manner. The abutting end walls 22, 23 are of sufiicient height to cause the mounting clips and retaining clips to be spaced from each other to prevent arcing or shorting. If the clips are of conducting material a suitable housing for the unit is recommended although if the clips are of non-conducting material, such housing is not thought to be necessary. While the electrical connector unit shown will accommodate six sets of wires, obviously the unit may have any desired number of recessed portions and accompanying components. For example, a unit with only two recessed portions and accompanying components may be used for splicing additional lengths of wire for extending the length of an extension cord or completing the connection of single circuit.

Details of the frictional connecting components are shown in the cross-sectional view in Fig. 2. In the upper section 12 the lower end 24 of mounting clip 14 extends inwardly and upwardly to pivotally engage and retain one end 26 of upper connector plate 27. This plate is of the same width as clips v14 and 17 and extends laterally between the two sides of the upper section 12. End 26 extends downwardly over lower end 24 of clip 14. Within the corresponding recessed portion on the opposite side of section 12 the upper end of retaining clip 17 is pivotally and slidably secured to section 12 by screw 18. Intermediate the top and bottom edges of the upper section is mounted a compression spring 28 resiliently urging the lower end 29 of clip 17 outwardly. Connector plate 27 has an opening in end 31 thereof, into which may be inserted clip end 29 when depressed inwardly against spring 28. End 29 of clip 17 extends outwardly to engage the bottom surface of end 3 1 to retain connector plate 27 in position. On the upper surface of plate 27 intermediate its ends is pivotally mounted contact arm 32 whose upper end 33 engages the exposed end 34 of wire 21 when it is inserted into aperture 19.

It should be noted that the depth of the cavity 37, within which arm 32 is positioned, is less than the length of the arm 32 so that upon counterclockwise movement of arm 32 it forces wire end 34 against the cavity roof. Contact arm 32 slants rearwardly from aperture 19 and its upper end 33 has a rearwardly and upwardly tapered surface such that it more firmly grips end 34 and frictionally retains it against the cavity roof when wire 21 is pulled outwardly. The more tension applied to wire 21 in attempting to remove it, the tighter arm 32 grips wire end 34 to prevent its removal. Arm 32 is normally held in its upward and rearward position by resilient member 36 riveted to connector plate 27. When retaining clip 17 is depressed so that its outwardly directed lower end 29 no longer engages the bottom surface of connector plate end 31, the resilient member 36 urges arm 32 against the roof of cavity 37, causing connector plate 27 to pivot in a clockwise direction about its end 26. This removes the frictional engagement of wire end 34 between the cavity roof and the upper end 33 of contact arm 32 and permits wire 21 to be withdrawn.

The lower section 11 is constructed in a manner similar to upper section 12 except that wire 21A is inserted from the side opposite to the insertion of wire 21 in upper section 12. Those components in the lower section 11 that correspond to their counterpart in upper section 12 have the same identifying numeral followed by the letter A. For example, mounting clip 14 in section 12 is shown as mounting clip 14A in section 11. Two differences should be noted however. An electrical intersectional connecting member 38 is riveted at one end to the upper surface of lower connector plate 27A while its other end is resiliently urged against the bottom surface of upper connector plate 27, or fuse 39 to be more fully described with reference to Fig. 3. The other difference is in the mounting of retaining clip 17A. Here the clip is pivotally and slidably mounted on screw 18A centrally fastened to the side of section 11 and compression spring 28 is mounted nearer the edge. The end 29A of clip 17A engaging the upper surface of end 31A of connector plate 27A extends inwardly instead of outwardly as in the upper section. By pressing the lower end of clip 17A inwardly against spring 28, the upper end 29A is moved outwardly from engagement with end 31A. Upon release of the lower end spring 23 urges the lower end outwardly and, by pivotal action against the head of screw 18A, upper end 2A moves inwardly to engage end 31A of the lower connector plate 27A. While the retaining clip 17A in the lower section 11 is shown in Fig. 2 as being formed and operating differently from retaining clip 17 in upper section 12, it should be understood that either type may be used exclusively if desired.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 wherein a part of Fig. 2 is enlarged to show the installation of a fuse 39. Fuse 39 comprises two sheets 41, 42 of plastic or other insulating material with two strips of conducting material 43, 44 sandwiched therebetween and extending outwardly from either end. These strips are electrically connected with a piece of fuse material 46 haying a low melting temperature so as to cause an open circuit between the two strips 43, 44 when current above a predetermined value is passed therethrough as when a short circuit or current overload occurs. The insulating material 41, 42 has recessed portions around the fuse material 46 to permit it to separate when heated. The material is sufficiently transparent over the fuse material to permit visual inspection thereof. Strip 43 is bent downwardly and fitted between end 26 of connector plate 27 and the upturned portion of end 24 of retaining clip 15. The other strip 44 is bent back over sheet 42 to form a contact surface for the upper end of the intersectional connecting member 38.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a modification of the electrical connection between the upper and lower sections. Here the intersectional connecting member 38 is fastened at each end to each of the connector plates 27, 27A. The permanent connection of the connector plates to the intersectional connecting member presents no problem in connecting the upper and lower sections 11 and 12 together since, upon inspection of Fig. 2, end 26 of upper connector plate 27 slidably and pivotally engages lower end 24 of clip 14 upon assembly and similarly end 26A of lower connector plate 27A slidably and pivotally engages upper end 24A of clip 14A upon assemly. In addition to providing a positive connection, this modification may be preferred since there are fewer separate parts to be fitted together in the assembly of the unit.

The components may be assembled and the connector unit readied for use at the factory or the components may be easily and readily assembled at the place where 4 its use is intended. After the unit is assembled, the wires are electrically connected and securely held simply by inserting them in the corresponding apertures on either side of the unit. The wires are disconnected by pressing inwardly on the retaining clips and withdrawing the wires. The fuses, when used, are replaced by separating the sections, releasing the connector plate, replacing the old fuse with a new one and reassembling the connector plate.

It is evident that various modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of this invention and all such modifications are to be regarded as lying within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for electrically connecting and disconnecting a pair of wires comprising a first section having a cavity therein and aperture extending from the cavity to the exterior of one side of the section for receiving one of said pairs of wires, an electrical conducting plate pivotally connected at one end of said section and covering said cavity, plate fastening means on the opposite side of said section releasably retaining the end of the plate opposite said pivotal end, wire gripping means mounted on the plate and extending into said cavity, said gripping means resiliently engaging the end of said wire and urging said wire against the surface of said cavity, said plate fastening means when actuated being operable to release said gripping means and said wire from engagement with the said surface of said cavity, an independent section having an aperture for receiving the other of said pairs of wires, means Within the second mentioned section for frictionally gripping the end of said other wire, means for rendering the last mentioned gripping means ineffective, means physically connecting said sections, and electrical connecting means carried by said sections in position to electrically connect said wires when said sections are connected with one another by the physical connecting means.

2. Means for electrically connecting and disconnecting a pair of wires as in claim 1, said gripping means comprising an arm pivotally mounted on said plate, said arm being longer than the depth of said cavity and sloping rearwardly from said aperture to engage said innermost surface at a position rearwardly of an imaginary line perpendicular to said plate at the arm connection thereto and intersecting said surface, said arm having a rearwardly tapered end portion for engagement with said wire, and resilient means connected to said plate continually urging said arm to perpendicular position.

3. Means for electrically connecting and disconnecting a pair of wires as in claim 1, said second section being constructed in like manner with said first section, said means electrically connecting said sections comprising a resilient conducting member fastened to one of said plates and resiliently contacting the other of said plates.

4. Means for electrically connecting and disconnecting a pair of wires as in claim 1, said second section being constructed in like manner with said first section, said means electrically connecting said sections comprising a conducting member extending between and connected to both of said plates.

5. Means for electrically connecting and disconnecting a pair of wires as in claim 1, said second section being constructed in like manner with said first section, said means electrically connecting said sections comprising a resilient conducting member fastened to one of said plates, a fuse member comprising two insulating sheets, two conducting strips sandwiched between said sheets and extending outwardly therefrom, a fuse material of low temperature coefficient electrically connecting said strips, said resilient conducting member resiliently contacting one of said strips, the other of said strips being electrically connected to the other of said plates.

6. Means for electrically connecting and disconnecting a pair of wires as in claim 5, one of said strips being bent downwardly and backwardly over part of said insulating sheet to form a contacting surface for said resilient conducting member, the other of said strips extending outwardly and downwardly to form a pivotal connection with the pivotal end of the other of said 5 plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,628,263 Bulla Feb. 10, 1953 10 

